Potential Components Research Articles

State dependent motor cortex stimulation reveals distinct mechanisms for corticospinal excitability and cortical responses.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that modulates brain activity by inducing electric fields in the brain. Real-time, state-dependent stimulation with TMS has shown that neural oscillation phase modulates corticospinal excitability. However, such motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) only indirectly reflect motor cortex activation and are unavailable at other brain regions of interest. The direct and secondary cortical effects of phase-dependent brain stimulation remain an open question. In this study, we recorded the cortical responses during single-pulse TMS using electroencephalography (EEG) concurrently with the MEP measurements in 20 healthy human volunteers (11 female). TMS was delivered at peak, rising, trough, and falling phases of mu (8-13 Hz) and beta (14-30 Hz) oscillations in the motor cortex. The cortical responses were quantified through TMS-evoked potential components N15, P50, and N100 as peak-to-peak amplitudes (P50-N15 and P50-N100). We further analyzed whether the pre-stimulus frequency band power was predictive of the cortical responses. We demonstrated that phase-specific targeting modulates cortical responses. The phase relationship between cortical responses was different for early and late responses. In addition, pre-TMS mu oscillatory power and phase significantly predicted both early and late cortical EEG responses in mu-specific targeting, indicating the independent causal effects of phase and power. However, only pre-TMS beta power significantly predicted the early and late TEP components during beta-specific targeting. Further analyses indicated distinct roles of mu and beta power on cortical responses. These findings provide insight to mechanistic understanding of neural oscillation states in cortical and corticospinal activation in humans.Significance Statement Understanding the effects of noninvasive neuromodulation on human brain provides valuable insights to its clinical utility. Brain state dependent stimulation helps us understand mechanisms leading to cortical responses and behavioral outcomes. Here we study the effects of the phase of ongoing oscillations in the motor cortex on cortical responses measured by electroencephalography. We also studied the relationship of phase preference between cortical responses and motor evoked potentials. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of the power of ongoing oscillations on cortical responses. These findings are important to understand the changes in biomarkers during state-dependent brain stimulation and their relationship to behavioral outcomes. At large, this helps the researchers to utilize state-dependent brain stimulation to enhance treatment efficacy.

Effectiveness of Public Messaging Within the Gambling Domain: A Systematic Review

AbstractGambling messaging is one potential component of a public health approach towards reducing gambling-related harm (GRH). This systematic review examined the effectiveness of existing public health gambling messaging interventions. Four databases were searched from inception to June 2023. Twenty-one papers met inclusion criteria. Studies were conducted in diverse settings, employed various designs, and evaluated messaging interventions that differed in their aims and reported outcomes. Interventions were categorised into three groups: general population-level messaging, gambling harm reduction messages, and product risk warnings. The evidence—currently limited—suggests that existing gambling messaging interventions are ineffective in changing behaviours but can raise awareness of GRH. Our findings underpinned recommendations for how the format and presentation of currently used ‘safer’ gambling messages and product warning labels may be improved. Research is required to develop and test messages that can help prevent and reduce GRH both for the general population and people who gamble.

Privacy Preserving Technologies

As the digital world continues to undergo fast change, the need of privacy-preserving technology has increased significantly in order to protect personal data from being accessed and used inappropriately by unauthorised parties. Blockchain technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), and biometrics are all investigated in this study as potential key components for improving privacy and security. A robust framework for securing transactions and data exchanges, ensuring transparency and integrity, is provided by blockchain technology, which features a decentralised and immutable data ledger. Concerns about privacy are raised as a result of the huge volume of sensitive data that is created and transferred by the Internet of Things (IoT), which connects a wide variety of devices. The purpose of this study is to investigate the application of blockchain technology for the purpose of securing Internet of Things settings, with the goal of preserving data integrity and user privacy. Moreover, biometrics, which are a kind of identification and verification that makes use of distinctive physical or behavioural features, are an essential component in the process of enhancing access control and personalised security. Within the scope of this article, we address recent developments in biometric technologies and how they might be used with blockchain technology to provide systems that are both safe and enhance privacy. This study illustrates the potential of various technologies to create a complete framework that protects individuals' privacy and solves the difficulties and possibilities that are presented by the digital age. This potential is shown by analysing the intersection of many technologies.

Linarin Identified as a Bioactive Compound of Lycii Cortex Ameliorates Insulin Resistance and Inflammation Through the c-FOS/ARG2 Signaling Axis.

Insulin resistance (IR) is a central pathophysiological process underlying numerous chronic metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. Lycii Cortex, a widely used traditional Chinese herb, has demonstrated potential benefits in preventing and managing diabetes and IR. Whereas, the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these protective effects and their underlying mechanisms of action remain elusive. This study aimed to identify the bioactive components within Lycii Cortex that contribute to its anti-diabetic effects and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its beneficial actions on insulin resistance. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses were employed to identify the potential active compounds in Lycii Cortex and their corresponding target proteins. An invitro model of IR was established using palmitic acid (PA)-treated HepG2 cells. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay, while glucose uptake was evaluated by 2-NBDG staining and extracellular glucose measurement. To validate the invitro findings, an invivo model of obesity-induced IR was established using high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. The network pharmacology analysis preliminarily identified 13 candidate chemicals and 10 hub LyC and IR-related genes (LIRRGs). Molecular docking analysis demonstrates that Linarin as the potential active component exhibits the greatest potential to target c-FOS for preventing obesity-induced IR. Enrichment analysis suggested that Linarin-targeted pathways are correlated with inflammation. Invitro experimental validation demonstrated that Linarin was capable of protecting against PA-induced IR in HepG2 cells evidenced by improving glucose uptake ability and reducing extracellular glucose content. Additionally, we found that Linarin ablated PA-induced increase in the expression of c-FOS and inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, in PA-treated cells, silencing c-FOS markedly improved glucose consumption, and reduced inflammation and Arginase 2 (ARG2) expression. Similarly, as exposure to PA, silencing ARG2 also ameliorated glucose uptake and inflammation, while not affecting c-FOS expression. Invivo experiments further showed that Linarin administration remarkably improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and reduced the fat mass and body weight in HFD-induced obese mice. In this study, Linarin has been identified as the bioactive compound of Lycii Cortex to ameliorate obesity-related IR and inflammation through the c-FOS/ARG2 signaling cascade. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of Linarin and provide valuable insights into developing novel intervention strategies for type 2 diabetes therapy.

Prediction of potential antitumor components in Ganoderma lucidum: A combined approach using machine learning and molecular docking

The objective of this study is to develop a reliable predictive model for antitumour activity and to identify potential antitumour components in Ganoderma lucidum. Four machine learning models, including Random Forest, were employed to train predictive models for antitumour activity, utilising Morgan fingerprints as molecular descriptors. The most effective model was then employed to predict the chemical composition of Ganoderma lucidum, identifying the four most probable compounds for molecular docking with known TNF-α-related targets. The findings of the study indicate that a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model exhibits an accuracy, F1 score, AUC, and sensitivity of 0.7638, 0.7638, 0.8332, and 0.7621, respectively. The model demonstrated an 80 % accuracy rate in predicting the antitumour activity of 10 FDA-approved drugs. Besides, the model identified 11 components in Ganoderma lucidum, including 3-nitroanisole, with a probability of antitumour activity exceeding 0.5, indicating their potential as antitumour agents. The results of the molecular docking procedure indicated that the four most promising antitumour compounds derived from Ganoderma lucidum exhibited a favourable binding affinity with the TNF-α target. In conclusion, this study incorporated a machine learning prediction step prior to molecular docking, thereby enhancing the reliability of the latter. Furthermore, it identified previously unreported compounds in Ganoderma lucidum with potential antitumour activity, such as 3-nitroanisole.

Systems Pharmacology to Explore the Potential Mechanism of Ginseng Against Heart Failure.

The aim of this study is to elucidate the pharmacological mechanism underlying the effects of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (ginseng) in heart failure (HF), providing a theoretical foundation for its clinical application. The potential mechanism of ginseng in the context of HF was investigated using systems pharmacology that combined network pharmacology, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) analysis, molecular docking, and experimental verification. Network pharmacology was employed to identify drug-disease targets. Core gene targets were subsequently subjected to enrichment analysis by integrating network pharmacology with GEO. Molecular docking was utilized to predict the binding affinities between identified targets and ginseng compounds. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficacy of ginseng was validated in an isoproterenol (ISO)-induced rat model of HF. The modulation of key signaling pathways by ginseng was confirmed through Western blot analysis. A total of 154 potential targets of ginseng in the treatment of HF were identified through network pharmacology analysis. The analysis of GSE71613 revealed that the PI3K-Akt pathway, reactive oxygen species, oxidative phosphorylation, MAPK signaling, and Ras signaling pathways are predominantly associated with patients with HF. By integrating the findings from network pharmacology and GEO analysis, ginsenoside Rg1 and ginsenoside Rb3 were identified as the potential components in ginseng, while FN1 and PRKAA2 were recognized as key targets involved in the PI3K-AKT and AMPK pathways, respectively. Molecular docking analysis revealed a strong affinity between the potential components and the identified core targets. In vivo experiments indicated that the extract of ginseng (EPG) significantly ameliorated ISO-induced cardiac dysfunction by improving cardiac parameters such as cardiac left ventricular internal systolic diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular end systolic volume, and left ventricular ejection fraction, while also reducing malondialdehyde production. In addition, EPG was found to enhance superoxide dismutase activity and ATP levels, while concurrently reducing the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. The extract also reduced myocardial oxygen consumption, inflammatory cell infiltration, and the number of damaged myocardial fibers. Moreover, EPG was observed to upregulate the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, p-AMPK, and Bcl-2, while downregulating the expression of p-NFκB, TGF-β, and Bax. The therapeutic effects of ginseng on HF are primarily mediated through the PI3K-Akt and AMPK pathways. Ginsenoside Rg1 and ginsenoside Rb3 have been identified as potential therapeutic agents for HF.

Investigation on improving immunologic reconstitution insufficiency using DiwuYanggan capsules in AIDS patients

BackgroundThis study aimed to explore the mechanism of action of DiWuYangGan (DWYG) capsule in improving Immunological non-responder (INR) by analyzing the active ingredients of DWYG.MethodsThe study employed a randomized, controlled, double-blind, single-simulation method. Patients were randomly divided into control and trial groups and treated with the primal highly effective antiretroviral therapy. To demonstrate the effect of DWYG on INR, patients in the control group were administered simulated DWYG, whereas patients in the trial group were administered DWYG capsules (ChiCTR1900024673). The chemical composition of DWYG was analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Potential targets of DWYG in the treatment of INR were identified and predicted using network pharmacology and molecular docking. The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of DWYG were validated using a peripheral blood monocyte model.ResultsThe CD4:CD8 ratio in the trial group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.01). A total of 210 DWYG compounds were identified and network pharmacology revealed 182 potential therapeutic targets for DWYG and INR. The results of Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses showed that the toll-like receptor signaling pathway is one of the key pathways. This study demonstrated that DWYG reduced the expression level of TLR4 and the levels of IL-2, IL-10, and TNF-α, which are important cytokines involved in the immune response.ConclusionThe efficacy of DWYG in the treatment of INR confirmed the potential practical components of DWYG. Moreover, the results of network pharmacology and experimental validation showed that DWYG could restore the immune function of acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients by inhibiting the expression of TLR4 and related signaling pathways and the overactivation of immune function.Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.html, identifier ChiCTR1900024673.

Identifying the quality markers and optimizing the processing of Gastrodiae rhizoma to treat brain diseases

BackgroundGastrodiae rhizoma (GR) refers to the dried tuber of Gastrodia elata Bl. and has been used for many centuries to treat brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, major depressive disorder, and cerebral ischemia. However, the processing of GR is complex and varied, resulting in unstable clinical treatment effects. The processing protocols significantly affect the active ingredients and curative effects of GR. We can optimize the processing of GR by identifying quality markers to treat brain diseases.MethodsFresh tubers of G. elata Bl. were processed under eight different protocols, and their resulting contents of potentially bioactive compounds were compared using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to screen the potential quality markers of GR through stoichiometric analysis. The potential quality markers of GR targeting Alzheimer’s disease, major depressive disorder, and cerebral ischemia were identified by network pharmacology, and the potentially neuroprotective effects of these components were validated through simulated docking to likely protein targets. Finally, a fit degree analysis was carried out using different composition ratios and proportions of the disease component degree value, and the therapeutic effects of different processing methods on Alzheimer’s disease, major depressive disorder, and cerebral ischemia were outlined clearly.ResultsWe identified 32 potential therapeutic components and screened 13 quality markers in GR, of which five quality markers (galactinol, glucosyringic acid, parishins C and E, and S-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-glutathione) showed efficacy against all three brain diseases. Furthermore, steaming and microwave-drying during processing can optimize the components of these quality markers for treating the three diseases.ConclusionProcessing protocols significantly affect the therapeutic components of GR and may also impact its effectiveness in treating brain diseases. Accordingly, optimizing the processing methods of GR to correspond to different therapeutic purposes may improve its efficacy against brain diseases.

From oxygen shortage to neurocognitive challenges: behavioral patterns and imaging insights

Environmental hypoxia, resulting from reduced oxygen supply, poses a significant risk of dysfunctioning and damaging the neurocognitive system, particularly in relation to anxiety and stress. Inadequate oxygenation can lead to acute and chronic brain damage. Scholars used behavioral, hemodynamic, and electromagnetic neurofunctional techniques to investigate the effects of normobaric and hypobaric hypoxia on neurocognitive systems. They found a correlation between hypoxia, altered psychomotor responses, and changes in EEG alpha, theta, beta, and gamma rhythms, which affect spatial attention and memory. Hypoxia affects event related potential (ERP) components differently depending on latency. Perceptual responses N1 and P2 remain largely unaffected, while the amplitudes of preattentive MMN, vMMN, and P3a are significantly altered. Late latency components related to attention, particularly P3b, are also altered. These changes illustrate the spectrum from sensory detection to more complex cognitive processing, highlighting the brain's efficiency in managing information. Interestingly, the amplitudes of P3b, ADAN and CNV can increase with increased cognitive demands in hypoxia. This suggests a compensatory response. Prolonged exposure exacerbates these effects, resulting in compensatory delayed behavioral responses and alterations in behavioral monitoring and conflict inhibitory control, as reflected by reduced amplitudes in some attention related ERP components, including N2, N2pc, and ERN. Thus, neurocognitive function and integrity are under stress. ERP sources and hemodynamic images reveal that vulnerable brain regions include the frontal prefrontal cortices, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and parietal and visual cortices, which are essential for attention related processes like decision making and spatial memory. The auditory system appears less affected.

Neurophysiological characteristics of reward processing in individuals at different levels of gaming.

Altered reward processing has been repeatedly reported in Internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, it remains unclear whether these changes are linked to the severity of addictive symptoms or the extent of gaming experience. This study examined the neurophysiological responses regarding reward anticipation and consummation in individuals at different levels of gaming (including 22 casual gamers, 31 regular gamers, and 27 individuals with IGD) through a monetary incentive delay task. Three event-related potential components during reward anticipation-cue-related P300 (Cue-P3), contingent negative variation, and stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN)-and two during reward consummation-feedback-related negativity and feedback-related P300 (FB-P3)-were measured. We found that IGD individuals exhibited greater Cue-P3 but lower SPN amplitude compared to casual gamers, while regular gamers fell between the two without significant differences. Regressions indicated that more extensive gaming experience, rather than the severity of the symptoms, primarily contributed to the increased Cue-P3 in IGD. No group differences were found during reward consummation. Our results highlight disrupted reward anticipation processing in IGD, characterized by increased attention bias toward reward cues (Cue-P3) but diminished cognitive resources for reward anticipation (SPN) and emphasize the role of gaming experience in increased attention bias in IGD.

Auditory N1 event-related potential amplitude is predictive of serum concentration of BPN14770 in fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a CGG repeat expansion ≥ 200 repeats in 5’ untranslated region of the FMR1 gene, leading to intellectual disability and cognitive difficulties, including in the domain of communication. A recent phase 2a clinical trial testing BPN14770, a phosphodiesterase 4D inhibitor, showed improved cognition in 30 adult males with FXS on drug relative to placebo. The initial study found significant improvements in clinical measures assessing cognition, language, and daily functioning in addition to marginal improvements in electroencephalography (EEG) results for the amplitude of the N1 event-related potential (ERP) component. These EEG results suggest BPN14770 improved neural hyperexcitability in FXS. The current study investigated the relationship between BPN14770 pharmacokinetics and the amplitude of the N1 ERP component from the initial data. Consistent with the original group-level finding post-period 1 of the study, participants who received BPN14770 in period 1 showed a significant correlation between N1 amplitude and serum concentration of BPN14770 measured at the end of period 1. These findings strengthen the validity of the original result, indicating that BPN14770 improves cognitive performance by modulating neural hyperexcitability. This study represents the first report of a significant correlation between a reliably abnormal EEG marker and serum concentration of a novel pharmaceutical in FXS.

Neurophysiological measures of covert semantic processing in neurotypical adolescents actively ignoring spoken sentence inputs: A high-density event-related potential (ERP) study

Language comprehension requires semantic processing of individual words and their context within a sentence. Well-characterized event-related potential (ERP) components (the N400 and late positivity component (LPC/P600)) provide neuromarkers of semantic processing, and are robustly evoked when semantic errors are introduced into sentences. These measures are useful for evaluating semantic processing in clinical populations, but it is not known whether they can be evoked in more severe neurodevelopmental disorders where explicit attention to the sentence inputs cannot be objectively assessed (i.e., when sentences are passively listened to). We evaluated whether N400 and LPC/P600 could be detected in adolescents who were explicitly ignoring sentence inputs. Specifically, it was asked whether explicit attention to spoken inputs was required for semantic processing, or if a degree of automatic processing occurs when the focus of attention is directed elsewhere? High-density ERPs were acquired from twenty-two adolescents (12–17 years), under two experimental conditions: 1. individuals actively determined whether the final word in a sentence was congruent or incongruent with sentence context, or 2. passively listened to background sentences while watching a video. When sentences were ignored, N400 and LPC/P600 were robustly evoked to semantic errors, albeit with reduced amplitudes and protracted/delayed latencies. Statistically distinct topographic distributions during passive versus active paradigms pointed to distinct generator configurations for semantic processing as a function of attention. Covert semantic processing continues in neurotypical adolescents when explicit attention is withdrawn from sentence inputs. As such, this approach could be used to objectively investigate semantic processing in populations with communication deficits.

Rapid Identification of Chemical Constituents of Sanhua Decoction in Vivo and in Vitro and the Metabolites of Rhubarb Anthraquinone Aglycone by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Sanhua Decoction (SHD) is a classic prescription for the treatment of stroke in the clinic. Based on the combination strategy in vitro and in vivo, the chemical constituents of SHD were characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry, and the metabolites of five effective anthraquinone aglycones (emodin, chrysophanol, rhein, aloe-emodin, and physcion) of rhubarb in SHD were studied. A total of 222 compounds were isolated and identified in vitro, including 50 flavonoids and their glycosides, 41 coumarins, 22 anthraquinones, 22 tannins, 14 phenylpropanoids, 16 alkaloids, 18 organic acids and their esters, 14 lignans, six anthrones, and 19 other compounds. A total of 111 prototype components were isolated and identified in vivo. Among them, 26, 82, 101, and 46 prototype components and 87 metabolites were detected in plasma, urine, feces, and bile for the first time. This study provides a basis for the identification of chemical components in vivo and in vitro and the analysis of potential pharmacodynamic components of SHD, and provides a basis for further study of pharmacodynamic mechanism.

Exploration the effective components of Gastrodia elata in improving cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury based on “Spectrum-effect” correlation and zebrafish verification experiment

BackgroundGastrodia elata (GE) has been widely used in clinical practice for many years with the functions of relieving stroke, suppressing liver Yang, dispelling wind and clearing collaterals. Our group's previous experimental studies have proved that GE has therapeutic effect on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI) (Ding et al., 2022). However, the active components of GE in treating CIRI remain unclear and require further research. PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to explore the potential effective components of GE improving CIRI based on the “Spectrum-effect” correlation. Zebrafish model was used for verification in vivo experimental. Materials and methodsFirst, the absorption components and metabolites of GE in rat serum were identified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS). Second, pharmacodynamic indexes were determined by ELISA kit method, and the effect-time curve of each pharmacodynamic indexes was established. The potential compounds were screened using the statistical method of grey correlation between pharmacodynamic indicator and component response. Finally, the zebrafish CIRI model was successfully established, and the in vivo effect of the active components of GE was verified intuitively. Results45 chemical components were detected in GE. A total of 87 active components in serum of GE were identified including 25 prototype components and 62 metabolites. GE can improve CIRI by regulating the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), MDA levels and SOD levels. It was found that p-hydroxy benzaldehyde (PHB), p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (PHBA) and gastrodin (GA) of GE were the possibly main active components by grey correlation statistics. The in vivo experiments of zebrafish model showed that PHB, PHBA, and GA have the ability to ameliorate cerebral thrombosis by regulation of oxidative stress and apoptosis. ConclusionsThe potential active components of GE on CIRI were initially excavated using UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, pharmacodynamics, and in vivo experiments of zebrafish model. It makes up for the disadvantages of separate research on chemical components and pharmacodynamics, and reflects the material basis of pharmacodynamics more objectively. It has provided theoretical basis for further quality evaluation and scientific foundation for rational drug using of GE in clinical.

Study on prediction method of controlled re-entry landing area of large spacecraft

Abstract The present paper proposes a calculation method for predicting the dispersion area of debris during the controlled re-entry of a large spacecraft, aiming to determine the controlled re-entry area accurately. This method involves analyzing the overall re-entry trajectory of the spacecraft as a priority, followed by ablation and disintegration analysis, and subsequently simulating the equipment-level trajectories of potential ground-falling components to obtain the final landing area envelope. Simulation results demonstrate that this approach effectively determines the controlled re-entry area, providing essential technical support for formulating implementation plans while ensuring safe and reliable reentries of large spacecraft into predetermined areas. Notably, this method has been successfully applied in previous missions such as Tianzhou-1 to Tianzhou 6 and can be further extended to subsequent controlled reentries involving Tianzhou-series cargo spacecraft and other low-orbit satellites.

Reuse of polyvinyl chloride residues—in powder and fiber forms—as potential components for green mortar pavers

Plastic wastes are considered a significant environmental pollution load because of their mostly non-biodegradable nature. Consequently, the need to lessen the environmental impact calls for employing eco-friendly strategies such as reusing materials in construction. The objective of this study is to analyze the mechanical behavior and environmental impacts of mortar elements, with a specific focus on pavers, by incorporating waste polyvinyl chloride (WPVC) as aggregate and partially replacing cement. Two distinct forms of this waste were considered in the investigation: (i) as it is generated in industrial processes, mainly in fiber form, WPVCf, and in the form of powder obtained by sieving the former, WPVCp. The ratio of conventional mortar materials replaced by WPVC and the final water-to-binder ratio changed based on waste type and mix workability. The experimental work involved preparing 84 pavers, each measuring 100 mm × 150 mm × 60 mm. For each type of paver, 12 samples were prepared, ensuring a minimum of 4 sets of test data for each curing period (7, 14, and 28 days). Flexural strength tests, conducted in accordance with the Colombian standard NTC 2017, utilized a standard flexural test machine with a 150 kN capacity. A specially designed steel tool applied a point load at the center of each paving block, maintaining a minimum distance of 10 millimeters from the edges. The findings demonstrated that pavers containing fiber plastic waste exhibited the requisite strength for paved walkways, even in the short term, when the weight ratio of WPVCf to sand (WPVCf/S) was 24 %. These results derive an eco-friendly solution for reusing PVC wastes currently deposited directly in landfills. Moreover, to analyze the environmental impacts of this solution, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis was carried out in this research. The LCA results pointed out that dosing with a WPVCf/S ratio of 24 % emerges as the most ecologically responsible, manifesting substantial reductions across impact categories, such as a significant 23 % decrease in climate change, a 23 % reduction in Photochemical ozone formation, and a 22 % reduction in renewable energy consumption. This underscores the potential of WPVCf incorporation as a consequential step toward eco-friendly construction materials. Furthermore, this solution not only translates to diminished paving block costs by requiring less fine aggregate and cement but also contributes to reduced transportation expenses owing to the decreased weight of the pavers.

Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Antinociceptive, and Anti‐Inflammatory Potential of Chemically Characterized Extract of Limeum Indicum Stocks ex T. Anderson (Aizoaceae). In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Investigations

AbstractLimeum indicum (LI), a plant from the Aizoaceae family, has garnered interest due to its potential health benefits. In this study, we explore the antidiabetic, antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti‐inflammatory properties of a chemically characterized whole extract from LI. In vitro assays included DPPH and reducing power tests to assess antioxidant activity. For in vivo investigations, adult Wistar rats were used. Alloxan‐induced diabetic rats received oral doses of LI whole extract (ethanol (LI‐EE), DCM (LI‐DE), and n‐Hexane (LI‐HE)) or glimepiride for 21 days. Carrageenan‐induced inflammation and nociceptive effects were also evaluated. Molecular docking studies aided in identifying potential targets for the extract's bioactivity. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and fixed oils in the extract. Both DPPH and reducing power assays demonstrated substantial total phenolic and flavonoid content, indicative of strong antioxidant activity. The extracts dose‐dependently reduced blood glucose levels in alloxan‐induced diabetic rats and mitigated inflammation and nociception. Furthermore, the significant antidiabetic and anti‐inflammatory activities of n‐hexane extract, suggested to identify the potential components by employing molecular docking studies.

Maxwell–Dirac system in cosmology

Within the scope of a Bianchi type-I (BI) cosmological model, we study the interacting system of spinor and electromagnetic fields and its role in the evolution of the Universe. In some earlier studies, it was found that in the case of a pure spinor field, the presence of nontrivial nondiagonal components of energy–momentum tensor (EMT) leads to some severe restrictions both on the space–time geometry and/or spinor field itself, whereas in the case of electromagnetic field with induced nonlinearity, such components impose severe restrictions on metric functions and the components of the vector potential. It is shown that in the case of interacting spinor and electromagnetic fields, the restrictions are not as severe as in the other cases and in this case, a nonlinear and massive spinor field with different components of vector potential can survive in a general Bianchi type-I space–time.

A Network Pharmacological Study of Qianjin Sanhuang Decoction in the Treatment of Osteoarthritic Knee Disease

Objective: To predict the action targets of Qianjin Sanhuang decoction in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis through network pharmacology, to explore its potential multi component, multi target, multi, pathway mechanism of action, and to elaborate the relationship between the pharmacological effects of the drug and the disease from the perspective of molecular mechanism. Methods: The Chinese herbal composition of Qianjin Sanhuang decoction was determined by reading ancient texts and reviewing data, and the chemical components of Qianjin Sanhuang decoction were collected through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and the active ingredients of the drug were obtained after oral utilization (OB) and drug-like properties (DL) screening, and the active ingredient target prediction was performed, while the active ingredient targets were retrieved from GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNet database to retrieve knee osteoarthritis-related targets. After taking the intersecting targets, a software called cytoscape 3.9.0 was used for mapping, with the goal of constructing a component-target network map, followed by a string database for mapping, with the goal of making a network map of target protein-target protein interactions, and finally, a gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, this analysis process was performed in the metascape database. Results: A total of 1272 targets related to osteoarthritis of the knee were collected in this study, 89 active ingredients of Qianjin Sanhuang decoction, involving 267 targets, and 121 therapeutic targets involving osteoarthritis of the knee, and the results of GO enrichment analysis showed that it involved the response to inorganic substances, positive regulation of cell migration, response to oxygen content, response to lipopolysaccharide, response to peptides, regulation of cell adhesion, response to extracellular stimuli, negative regulation of cell differentiation, positive regulation of cell death, glandular development, regulation of apoptotic signaling pathways, development of reproductive structures, response to trauma, response to growth factors, regulation of inflammatory response, cellular response to organic recycling compounds, regulation of proteolysis, etc. After KEGG analysis, the results showed that signaling pathways such as AGE-RAGE pathway and HIF-1 pathway were involved. Conclusion: Qianjin Sanhuang decoction can improve the inflammatory response of knee osteoarthritis through potential multi-pathways, multi-targets and multi-pathways, and can have potential therapeutic effects on osteoarthritis.

Clothing design factors, aesthetic experience, and preference: Additional insights from neuromarketing in civil defense clothing

ABSTRACT This study analyzed the relationships among clothing design factors, aesthetic experience, and preference and suggested ways to design civil defense clothing with better work performance. We use behavioral and electroencephalogram (EEG) experiments to identify user-preferred colors and styles and incorporate them into an improved civil defense clothing design. Through the behavioral experiment, we identified the civil defense clothing design preferred by users and explored the aesthetic experience that influenced user preference. We used the neuroscientific method of event-related potentials to further explore the neural mechanisms of users’ preferred civil defense clothing designs. In the EEG experiment, the preferred civil defense clothing contains frontal late positive potential (LPP) components involved in aesthetic experience. These results indicate that the improved civil defense clothing design evoked aesthetic experiences from users. We expect that using advanced materials and design improves the user’s aesthetic experience and preferences. This research contributes to the development of civil defense clothing that not only enhance functionality but also improve user experience and work performance.